I hadn't delved into a McCammon novel for quite a while. However, whenever I do, I invariably find myself thoroughly enjoying them, regardless of how outlandish the story might seem. McCammon is renowned for his horror tales, and his novels have often been favorably likened to those of Stephen King.

This particular novel is an outstanding WWII adventure, with the protagonist being none other than a werewolf! Michael Gallatin was born into a noble family in Russia during the reign of Czar Nicholas and Alexandra. Rumor has it that his biological father was actually Rasputin. Then, the Russian revolution took place, and Mikail's (his Russian name) family was brutally slain by the revolutionaries. But he managed to escape by being bitten by a werewolf and was thus taken into their ranks.

The novel employs two time periods to unfold Michael's story: his life growing up among the werewolves and his life as a spy for Britain during WWII. It's an extremely long narrative, exceeding 600 pages, yet it never once failed to hold my interest. Michael finds himself engaged in battles against Rommel in North Africa and is then dispatched on a mission that could have a significant impact on the Allied invasion on D-day. His adventures involve the resistance in France, which ultimately leads him to Berlin and some truly nefarious Nazis who are developing a weapon that could potentially halt the Allies. Michael also gets entangled with several women along the way, and of course, his ability to transform into a wolf proves to be quite an advantage. Overall, it's a highly engaging read from McCammon that I thoroughly relished.

The Wolf's Hour is an exciting adventure story that also doubles as a thrilling spy story. It has a distinct flavor similar to the classic James Bond movies. However, what sets it apart is the unique addition of blood and horror elements. The main character, who happens to be a werewolf, brings a whole new level of danger and excitement to the story. With his fangs and claws, he becomes a force to be reckoned with. The combination of these different genres makes The Wolf's Hour a truly captivating read. It keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, wondering what will happen next. Whether it's the thrilling spy missions or the terrifying encounters with the werewolf, this story has something for everyone.

It's a masterful blend of adventure, espionage, and horror that will leave you wanting more.

Homo homini lupus.

Michael Gallatin has endured the savage survival battle within a werewolf pack in the Russian forests. He has been hunted as a monster and tortured by the question of whether, as a werewolf, he is a man or a beast. However, his journey through the horrors of WWII uncovers the truth: it is the humans who are the beasts.

This book encompasses a wide range of elements. There is wonderfully constructed tension that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, along with plenty of exciting action. There is also a touch of romance to add an extra layer of depth. It offers moments of contemplation, showcases courage, and presents characters that the reader truly cares about. It delves into history, provides humor, displays heroism, and evokes heartache. The protagonist's propensity to constantly find himself in situations that deteriorate from bad to worse and even to the unimaginably terrible makes the book a real page-turner. Nevertheless, it cannot be considered light reading as it does not shield the reader from the brutality of war and the cruelty that humans are capable of.

Although the action scenes could have been more tightly paced and tenser, and some scenes, such as the human-to-wolf transformations, were a bit repetitive, overall, this is a well-executed story. I would highly recommend it to anyone with an interest in lycanthrope lore.

You know how sometimes when you pick up a book, you can immediately sense that it belongs to a particular genre, even if you're not entirely sure which specific genre conventions it adheres to? Well, this book is clearly a type of Manly Adventure Story that is rather unfamiliar to me. Ever since I first read this, I've attempted to delve into several of the author's other novels, but I just seem to bounce off the genre.

So, why do I enjoy this one? I think it's the concept, and I believe you'll agree that it's a real doozy: Werewolf Secret Service vs Nazis!

You see? Three stars.

This is a decently substantial book. It doesn't just focus on the "vs Nazis!" aspect but also includes an extended series of flashbacks to the werewolf's childhood. The "Secret Service" parts are... well, how elaborate do you expect the plot to be? Just go with the flow.

There are some quite graphic "vs Nazis!" sections, featuring horrific concentration camp scenes and a lot of torture (explicit) and rape (implied) - pretty much what you'd anticipate in a "Werewolf Secret Service vs Nazis!" story. It's carefully crafted as fiction to make it not overly traumatic to read (whether or not it should be). I guess that's the peril of using real-life monsters.

There are also several rather absurd sex scenes, but they can be easily skipped over: his eyes are very green and he smells strangely musky; she has always been cool and competent, but that musk drives her wild. There, that's all you need to know.

Anyway, if the idea of Werewolf Secret Service vs Nazis! intrigues you, here it is.

“Werewolf superspy” - if I were pitching this book to a movie studio exec, these two words would be the first to blurt out. In essence, that's all this novel is. But a high concept alone doesn't make for a readable book.

Back in the 80s, Robert R. McCammon was one of my favorite horror fiction authors. He wrote the excellent supernatural post-apocalyptic Swan Song, a lengthy novel similar to, yet very different from, Stephen King’s epic The Stand. As I recall, when I finished Swan Song, I felt it was perhaps a bit better than The Stand. To be fair, I'd have to read both books again to compare them. I also read They Thirst, Stinger, Mine, etc. All very good. Unfortunately, from Boy’s Life onward, McCammon drifted away from the horror genre as he found success with this rather mainstream book that didn't do much for me at the time. I don't know if I'd like Boy’s Life now, but back then, it wasn't what I wanted from him.

The Wolf's Hour is an amalgamation of the horror and espionage genres. I was intrigued by the fusion of these genres and curious to see which would take precedence. I think the emphasis leans slightly toward the espionage side. The lycanthropic protagonist, Michael Gallatin, is introduced as a young boy who lost his parents tragically and is taken in by a pack of werewolves who raise him and pass on the “gift” of lycanthropy. The narrative is split into two timelines, focusing on his childhood and development as a teen wolf, and his adventures as a Bondesque British spy battling Nazis during World War II. This novel is McCammon at his best, action-packed with devious plotting and edge-of-seat cloak and dagger business. The werewolf transformation scenes are vividly described, as are the more grounded spy vs spy fight scenes. There's considerable gore and violence, but the tone leans more toward high octane action, and I wouldn't call this a horror novel. Michael Gallatin is a hero you can root for, but a bit more of a sense of humor would have been nice. McCammon’s take on lycanthropy is based on a sci-fi rationale rather than a supernatural one. He doesn't make a particularly convincing case for it, but it's not of any real importance to the storyline.

I don't have a lot to say about The Wolf's Hour as it's just a fun read that isn't meant to be ruminated about. For pure entertainment, it works very well. People talk about popcorn movies. Do people eat popcorn while reading too? Anyway, some snacks would go well with this book.

Subterranean Press recently released a limited reprint of this book, which was originally published in 1989 by Grafton (Harper Collins). In honour of this, it truly deserves a re-read and a review. I am certain that there are many people out there who are completely unaware of this hidden gem.

It is a werewolf story that is completely distinct from any other I have ever read. Even 20 years after its release, it remains a captivating read. Forget about Underworld, The Howling, and especially Twilight. This Lycanthrope is more like 'James Bond' than 'Lucian'.

The prologue presents us with two tales - one of a wolf and one of a man - and introduces us to the two aspects of Michael Gallatin. Born Mikhail Gallatinov into an aristocratic family in Tsarist Russia, Michael now works as a British spy and is dispatched on a crucial mission into Nazi-occupied France.

The book functions almost like two novels in one, seamlessly flitting between the two halves of Michael's life. At times, however, this structure is in danger of disrupting the pace of the story. The first part is an account of espionage and adventure, set in 1944 Paris. Employed as a British spy, Michael is entrusted with a mission that demands his special abilities. He is dropped behind enemy lines to retrieve vital intelligence from a resistance agent who is constantly under the watchful eye of the Gestapo. His discoveries lead him to Berlin, where he uncovers more about a Third Reich plan known as "Iron Fist".

The second part of the story delves into how Mikhail Gallatinov acquired his lycanthropy as a young boy in early 1918. Less than a year after Tsar Nicholas II abdicated, his mother, father, and sister were all brutally shot by revolutionaries during a family picnic. Mikhail manages to escape the gunmen only to stumble upon a pack of werewolves. When he awakens, he discovers that he has been bitten by a werewolf, or lycanthrope as they refer to themselves. After surviving the initial transformation of the virus, he is adopted and raised by the pack.

The character of Michael/Mikhail is an A-grade alpha male. The women he encounters find him irresistibly charming, even though he does little more than look good and possess brooding green eyes. He reveals nothing about his inner emotions, and while the reader gets to learn about his past and, therefore, his motivations, his conquests remain in the dark. I struggle to understand what compels these women to fall for someone they know absolutely nothing about. He isn't even that great of a spy - seemingly getting himself captured regularly and often to the detriment of his colleagues. I was able to figure out what he was searching for, armed with the same information he had, several hundred pages before him. Fans of Ian Fleming's work will, however, adore this character.

Praise must be given to the author as the book appears to be extremely well-researched. A wealth of historical detail regarding the Russian and WWII portions of the book is evident. It is clear that the author has also conducted extensive research into the mannerisms of wolves, and an obvious affection for the animal shines through.

Personally, the fantasy portion of the book and Mikhail's life among the pack was far more entertaining for me. The family dynamics between Mikhail and the other pack members are masterfully written and utterly engrossing.

One of the few things that disappointed me was that the two halves of the book never really seem to converge, despite my constant hope that they would. There are some loose ends from the early years of his life that seem to be conveniently swept under the carpet and never mentioned again. There is a significant gap in Michael's timeline when we leap forward from his feral childhood in the forest to his employment with the British Government. I can only assume that the author intended to write a sequel to fill in this plot oversight. Apparently, the Subterranean Press reprint includes a recently written novella about Michael Gallatin, so if you are fortunate enough to obtain one of these special editions, these issues may well be addressed.

The other aspect that I found a little tiresome was the use of euphemisms when recounting the unnecessarily drawn-out sex scenes, which now seem rather dated. I'm not suggesting that I was anticipating pornographic levels of detail, but it seems inconsistent with the vivid and detailed descriptions of the guts and gore.

That being said, it is a great story, and the action at times is fast-paced with complex plot lines that are still easy to follow. Michael embarks on a journey of self-discovery in the book, and despite the slightly misogynistic undertones, he is a character of nobility and dignified savagery as he comes to terms with his dual nature. Despite the cheesy concept of a werewolf-turned-spy, it is a novel well worth persevering with and one that I would wholeheartedly recommend.

Reviewer’s Note: This is a three and a half star book on the Hugh-Scale. It's possible that, at some level, I'm seeking vengeance on McCammon because this book isn't as good as “Swan Song.” Then again, not many books are. I rated Swan Song as a 5 and, in my opinion, there is something special in that book. There are special parts of Wolf’s Hour, though I think, overall those parts do not add up to a higher rating. At any rate, 3.5 is a good score from me, and, there are certainly parts of this book that I would go as high as 4.5 for.

Before I get on with the review, here’s the link to an explanation of my 5 star scoring system, proof or explanation that I see a 3 star book as a good solid read and 4 star books as special. I go on like this because I want people who read this to understand that I actually liked this book. Reviews tend to focus on the negatives, and this review from me is no different. It is greater than the sum of its parts so to speak or…”context is everything.”

1. Synopsis - Wolf’s Hour

This is a book about Alexander Gallatin, though that is not the first name he’s gone by. Alexander is a special agent working for Churchill’s England during World War II. He’s not your ordinary spy and he does not take the ordinary missions. You see, Alexander Gallatin is a werewolf.

The story opens with Gallatin doing his Lupine-James-Bond thing, stealing top secret plans and reports from the Nazi’s at Tobruk, and saving Montgomery’s but. Fresh from a successful mission, the gallant Gallatin winds up in Cairo at the home of a close friend and beautiful Lady, married into English nobility, then, widowed out of it. Apparently some feral sparks fly, or maybe they have flown in the past, and the two fall madly in bed together. Later in the evening Gallatin trots off to take care of business and comes back to find the beautiful young widow murdered by a Nazi assassin. A brutal fight ensues where Gallatin kills the assassin and barely escapes with his life. The episode leaves him battered, disgruntled and heart-sore and he limps back to England and goes into hiding to heal.

Some time later, two stuffy English military pencil pushers go out to find him at his estate. They find him running through the rushes naked and swallow hard, trying to tell themselves that he’s “..just a little eccentric that one…” With some mutual reluctance, the two convince Gallatin to take a new mission. Hitler has a secret weapon that will be unleashed on Mother England and, since he conveniently speaks German, and somebody up the chain of command knows Gallatin’s secret, they recruit him to go find out what it is before the Allied invasion of Normandy (D-Day). Gallatin gets dropped by airplane into the French back country to start following the scent.

The perfect hunter, on the trail of a deadly weapon with the days passing swiftly as the clock ticks towards “H-hour.” (which is the time the guns are supposed to stop shelling the beaches at Normandy so the landing craft can go in with the troops.) “Battle-Speed, Battle-Speed, Battle-Speed!”

I’m not going into more detail for a synopsis than I have so I don’t spoil the surprise for you. Anything that may reveal something will be put under a spoiler tag from here on out.

2. Characters –

Okay, there are two stories here. There is the story of the spy, Alexander Gallatin, and there is the story of Alexander Gallatin, the young werewolf growing up. He used a different name when he was growing up. Generally, I found the characters in Gallatin’s “back story” more interesting and richer than those in the spy novel. McCammon developed a hidden den of werewolves living in rough country Russia that taught Alexander how to hang on to his humanity, yet, also, enjoy and experience the wonders of wolfdom.

Alexander himself was more interesting in the flashbacks than he was in the spy novel. He was most interesting as the wounded veteran of past intelligence campaigns in the first three chapters. Then, as heroes go, he became less interesting until he began to “wolf-up.” Sure, he was dashing enough, fallible in a humanizing sort of way, and, like any other super-hero, larger than life when there was a crisis. In fact Gallatin toggled between interesting in the flashback to essence of testosterone and musk in the spy story more than he appeared to be human. I have no doubt that his character development was influenced either by James Coburn -“My Man Flint” or a Sean Connery –James Bond, possibly a Dean Martin – Matt Helm. It’s not that I didn’t like Alexander, only that, when the spy story was going full blast, he seemed more like a comic book character out of “Watchmen” than from a Novel.

The Villains were predictably maniacal and sadistic, but, after all, they were the Nazis right? What you expect from the most insane and maniacal obsessive compulsive Nazi-SS characters, you get. We don’t see anything new here, nor should we. Brutal Nazi’s out to conquer the world and put themselves at the top of the new world order, believing that they are genetically superior… you know. Hitler inspired Nazis. I have no issues with the way they were depicted, however, there is a point with presentation to make later. The Nazi’s seemed to suffer from “author-selective stupidity,” but they were kind of crazy, so that didn’t bother me too much.

Wonder Woman and Dianna Prince played a … just kidding. She wasn’t wonder woman but I she gave off that vibe now and then. Chesna is really more of a super spy in deep cover than Dianna Prince, but I’ve no doubt she could fly an invisible jet and block bullets with bracelets. She was more interesting than Gallatin in spy mode, but not more interesting than the other characters in the flashbacks. She was every bit from the James Bond super spy partner mold. At first, cold blooded, lethal with a personality like 7 of 9 on Star Trek. As the story went on, she became warm and girly but also less and less effective.

The most interesting, and well written character was “Mouse” the Deserter from the German forces roaming the Paris streets, shell-shocked. In fact, I’d say, that, though it was clear that he was not a leading character, he was perhaps the most complex and best written character in the book. If it were a movie, he’d get my nod for a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award. He was slightly crazy, slightly shell-shocked, a German, but not a Nazi, a family man who’s family is killed. and the most consistently human character in the book.

Nickola and the pack, from the flashbacks were worth the price of admission. These were the real stars of this book. The Pack reminded me of David Bowie and the gang from the movie “The Howling,” save they generally reeked of the essence of good not evil, misunderstood good, to be sure, but not evil, most of the time anyway. Trust me, if this had been a story about the Russian Revolution, Nickola and the Pack and Alexander, then this might have been another best seller. The best parts of this book were all flashbacks about this time in Young Gallatin’s life.

The supporting cast included some throw-away characters, that, like the others, turned out to be more interesting than our hero. The perky little French Resistance fighter was more interesting than Chesna-Echo but in the end, they serve to prop up the weak characters and keep everybody looking interesting.

McCammon also failed his female characters. He wrote them into the story like a lioness but they tended become lamb (or Lamb-chop) before their scene was done. Their lust for “The big dog” weakened the way they appeared in the stories and, along with this, we know they did many things more dangerous and difficult than their adventures with Wolf-boy yet, they seemed to fold and lean on him when the chips went down…weather they wanted too or not. Even my darling wolf-ettes in the Pack tended to be more bark than bite. The only woman who held her own was a huge Scandinavian Crazy Alcoholic Eskimo-ish guide from the Baltic Sea. I would add that the female wolves in the pack were still very interesting.

3. World Building

McCammon’s Earth, where werewolves run through the wilds of Russia chasing trains and helping young wolves through “the change” provided the most enjoyment for me and in my opinion are the best part of the book. The entire society of the pack was weird, wild, thoughtful and frightening at times. This is where the lesson’s about how to maintain humanity were hidden. They offered an interesting contrast to the Nazi’s who were even more brutal and aggressive than the wolves of the pack, and even showed a sense of moral responsibility when they hunted down one of their own kind (different pack) who had turned rogue and started killing for killing sake. They were like gypsies on one hand but wolves on the other.

McCammon did not conform to all of the traditional Werewolf myths. In fact, he pretty much ignored them. Werewolves could change at will, they were not inherently good or evil and they had knowledge of what happened while they were in wolf form as well as human form. They didn’t magically heal damage when they changed and a regular bullet would be as effective as a silver one. They still had their superhuman strength and, a very human creativity in how they used their abilities. They were less lycanthropes than they were shape shifters.

Now, I love the traditional –wolf-bad-human good delimma of werewolf sagas. The stories where the man bitten by a werewolf changes at night and can’t remember the rampage he had just been on, the dilemma played upon most excellently, with humor in the movie “An American Werewolf in London,” for example. This was different, but I loved it just the same.

The Third Reich was not cartoonish, but, they were definitely the villains that everyone who has been to the movies has learned to love to hate and fit the caricatures usually found in Serious minded Comic Books. Though this may sound disparaging, it actually worked very well, given the tenor and nature of the story. These were James Bond style villains, mean, spiteful, prideful, horrible in their gluttony for causing pain.

Except for:

There were times where McCammon described the landscape, the people, the devastation of war and how the Nazi’s seemed to exist in a dream world where they recognized none of that. He was able to separate the average patriotic German defending the Fatherland from the wicked worms of the SS. Having cartoonish villains helped with this but McCammon showed more of a sense of the real cost of WWII and, in several chapters, scattered here and there, he depicted scenes that we can scarcely imagine the horror and ugliness as real, yet, from history books, we know how real they were. This is another place where this book exceeds the plot and story. This was not a historical fiction novel such as Tim Powers might write, but, McCammon was able to communicate how disconnected from reality and morality the Nazi’s were and a real feel for the devastation left behind.

4. Plot

I’ve said it enough times by now,…the plot was a bit too much like a savage Comic Book when dealing with the Spy Novel or Alexander as an adult in Churchill’s employ. He had a bit too much of the Alpha Dog in him. Every woman of any note, under the age of 35 and over the age of 13 wanted to sleep with him (most did), he went into situations with supreme confidence and blind loyalty and on top of that he was a little …weird.

I wished there had been more of the Wolf-Pack in Russia.

The spy story was good, well managed, entertaining. The pace of action – drama found a good balance, even with the Super-hero characters and the back story was fantabulous (yes, I know that’s not a real word.) The ending fell a little flat for me when Gallatin gets shot and spends a week healing a grievous wound whit the allied invasion pending. I mean, come on… Chesna and the others spend an entire week without being hassled by the Nazis, locked in an Iron Dungeon with minimal guard until Alexander snaps out of it and comes to rescue them?... It just seemed to stop the action and become rather nebulous all of a sudden. The Russian Pilot was a good addition, but he failed to make the connections with me that Mouse had.

Though I praise McCammon for showing an accurate accounting of the horrors that befell Jews at the hands of the Nazis and how the Nazi’s turned elitist and abused their own citizenry towards the end. I think the perverse, grotesque and utterly horrible “Show” put on at “The Brimstone Club” even if it was realistic, or depicted events that may have happened during WWII, went a bit too far. I’m generally not squeamish, not when it comes to books anyway. I don’t mind gore, torture, masochism, sadism etc. Having said that, I think those scenes continued well past the point where McCammon had maxed out shock value. It was difficult to read through. I understand why Alexander turned away. I didn’t understand why Chesna had endured many shows without leaving, and was even more confused when Exposed herself, blowing her own cover at this one. What, just because Michael was there? How did she stomach it before? All in all, I think McCammon could have eased up on the sadism-gas pedal just a touch here.

5. Warnings

Violence here, violence there violence everywhere. Violence to fat kids, sissy kids, kids who climb on rocks, big Nazi’s small Nazis, even Nazi’s with chicken pox get abused here. Good guys and bad guys. People get eaten shot, tortured, brutalized in the cruelest ways… you name it. This may be Noir-lite by some readers standards, but, it definitely gets the gore-violence warning from me. Just remember “I told you so.” Given that we are talking about Nazis and Werewolves, I don’t think it’s gratuitous. It just may be worse than some of what you might expect. (The Violence in Swan Song was probably worse, though it is a bit more “raw” in this book and there for harder to swallow.).

Female characters - The strong heroines become wilting lilies unless they are 60 year old silver-haired female curmudgeons hardened by the horrors of war and occupied France.

Not a traditional werewolf story. If you only like tradition, this will violate some of the oldest werewolf myths.

6. To Sum up

This is a decent, but not remarkable spy story, wrapped around a remarkable but not traditional Werewolf story. The Violence is expectable but the violent scenes tend to play out past their usefulness. The main characters are weakest, the supporting cast is actually very interesting, and Nazi’s are Nazis. The story moved along at a fast gallop had a fast pace with periods of swift trotting. Though I’ve talked about it like it stunk in this review, that’s misleading because I enjoyed the read. Flaws and all it gets some high marks for style, and being smooth. Even though I didn’t like parts, only a couple stand out as problematic and, though I didn’t like Chesna and Alexander Michael Gallatin, I liked them well enough to enjoy.

But the flashbacks in Russia were worth the price of admission!

3.5 stars, good read, netting a half star for accurate and sympathetic depiction of the harsh treatment of Jews in

The Wolf's Hour is my second encounter with Robert McCammon's works. The first one I read, The Night Boat, which was about Nazi Zombies, I really enjoyed. And this book, which could be described as a tale of Nazis and Werewolves, was equally captivating.

McCammon is often mentioned in the same vein as Stephen King, and he is an author whose works I am eager to explore more of (alongside King).

This book consists of two stories. The first one details how the main character transforms into a werewolf and his experiences within his pack. The second story focuses on the main character taking on the might of the Nazis.

The Nazi story leans more towards a spy thriller with elements of horror rather than a straightforward werewolf tale. I could envision a Die Hard era Bruce Willis in the lead role. This unique approach to a werewolf story is one that I truly relished.

At 600 pages, it is a rather long book (for me anyway, but perhaps not for a dedicated fantasy reader). However, the story never felt拖沓, and I was never bored. I love how fiction and non-fiction blend seamlessly. The book is crafted around factual events of World War II, demonstrating how a werewolf contributed to the defeat of the Nazis. Who would have ever thought of such a thing!

The very existence of this book is truly remarkable, and I can hardly contain my excitement. My friend M. Sweeney Lawless passed it on to me while I was working on a screenplay based on my werewolf blog. I immediately fell in love with it, mainly because of the author's audacity in writing such a book.

From the back jacket, we learn that the protagonist is Michael Gallatin, a master spy, lover, and werewolf. He can change shape with lightning speed and kill silently with savage fury. He proved his talents against Rommel in Africa, and now he faces his most delicate and dangerous mission: to uncover the secret Nazi plan known as Iron Fist.

This book is filled with thrilling werewolf vs. Nazi action, flashbacks to the Russian Revolution, and a rather alarming number of graphic sex scenes. Oh, and it's a hefty 600 pages long.

You heard me right. It's a good 70 pages longer than 'Crime and Punishment'.

In its defense, there are considerably more murders in 'The Wolf's Hour', which accounts for the page count.

I've only read about 242 pages so far, and I mostly stopped because my future wife pleaded with me to do so. I had a compulsive habit of reading the book in bed, giggling like an idiot, and then reading long passages aloud to her, usually about werewolves peeing on each other.

Update: After writing this, I threw the book in my bag for my honeymoon, and I have about 100 pages left. The scene where two werewolves have sex in both human and wolf form is particularly repulsive. Right now, the werewolf is behind enemy lines in Norway, investigating an illegal SS chemical agent that they have been testing on humans. There's a hot blonde actress with him who suspects he's a werewolf. It's really stupid.

Second Update: I finally finished this book, and Jesus, the ending is terrible. Winston Churchill shows up, for crying out loud. I knew the ending was going to be bad with about 60 pages left, but what - do you only read the first 540 pages of a werewolf spy novel and then put it down, saying it's not that good? Come on, man.

If you are a fan of spy thrillers and horror, you simply can't do much better than the story of Michael Gallatin. He is a Russian immigrant who now works for British Intelligence as an agent, and here's the twist - he just happens to be a werewolf.

The novel is set in the time leading up to WWII's D-Day. Gallatin is on a crucial mission, attempting to find a way to prevent a German plot that could derail the Allied invasion. Throughout the book, in several chapters that are artfully mixed in, we get to learn the riveting and heartbreaking story of how Gallatin became a werewolf.

I'm not typically a big paranormal fan and don't usually like stories about werewolves, but there are always exceptions. And Gallatin is definitely one of those exceptions. I was completely immersed in this captivating story, which was filled with historical authenticity. McCammon is truly a master who knows exactly how to keep you turning the pages.

I read this book for the first time when it was originally published in 1989 and have never forgotten it. With its conversion to Kindle, I just couldn't resist the opportunity to own it once more. I realize how long it's been since I've read anything else by Robert McCammon, and I plan to correct that as soon as possible. I highly recommend adding this fascinating story to your book collection. It's a thrilling ride that you won't want to miss.

I truly adored this book!

Last night, when I finally reached the end, I was completely at a loss for words.

The action scenes within the story were simply amazing. They were so vividly described that I could almost picture myself right in the middle of the excitement.

Moreover, the suspense throughout the book was overwhelming. It kept me on the edge of my seat, constantly eager to turn the next page to find out what would happen next.

Every time I thought I had figured out what was going on, there would be a new twist or turn that would completely surprise me.

This book is definitely one of the best I've read in a long time, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good adventure with plenty of action and suspense.

This was an extremely great read.

It encompassed a bit of everything, and on top of that, it was very well written.

Moreover, it truly works. Every single aspect of it.

Yes, even the werewolf part was captivating.

Well done to the author.

I have a strong desire for more.

I really love the way the story alternates between being in the present and then having flashbacks.

They were indeed some of my favorite chapters.

Yes, chapters filled with flashbacks that formed a complete second story within the main narrative.

I am certain that there are numerous amazing reviews out there about this book.

All I can say is that I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone.

Why is there not more of this kind of wonderful literature?

I hope the author continues to produce such great works.